The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Byrne V. Baucom, Captain (Air
Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Chateau-Thierry
and St Mihiel Salients, France. Lieutenant Baucom, with First Lieutenant William
P. Erwin, pilot, by a long period of faithful and heroic operations, set an
inspiring example of courage and devotion to duty to his entire squadron.
Throughout the Chateau-Thierry actions in June and July, 1918, he flew under the
worst weather conditions and successfully carried out his missions in the face
of heavy odds. In the St. Mihiel sector, September 12-16, 1918, he repeated his
previous courageous work. He flew as low as 50 feet from the ground behind the
enemy's lines, harassing German troops with machine guns. He twice drove off
enemy planes which were attempting to destroy an American observation balloon.
On September 12-13, 1918, he flew at extremely low altitudes and carried out
infantry contact patrols successfully. Again on September 12 he attacked a
German battery, forced the crew to abandon it, shot off his horse a German
officer who was trying to escape, drove the cannoneers to their dugouts, and
kept them there until the infantry could come up and capture them.